Chapter 1: Introduction

What is an Operating System?

Mainframe Systems
Desktop Systems
Multiprocessor Systems
Distributed Systems
Clustered System
Real -Time Systems
Handheld Systems
Computing Environments

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What is an Operating System?

A program that acts as an intermediary between a user of

a computer and the computer hardware.

Operating system goals:

Execute user programs and make solving user problems

easier.
Make the computer system convenient to use.

Use the computer hardware in an efficient manner.

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Computer System Components

1. Hardware provides basic computing resources (CPU,

memory, I/O devices).
2. Operating system controls and coordinates the use of
the hardware among the various application programs for
the various users.
3. Applications programs define the ways in which the
system resources are used to solve the computing
problems of the users (compilers, database systems,
video games, business programs).
4. Users (people, machines, other computers).

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Abstract View of System Components

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Operating System Definitions

Resource allocator manages and allocates resources.

Control program controls the execution of user

programs and operations of I/O devices .

Kernel the one program running at all times (all else
being application programs).

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Mainframe Systems
Reduce setup time by batching similar jobs
Automatic job sequencing automatically transfers

control from one job to another. First rudimentary

operating system.
Resident monitor
initial control in monitor
control transfers to job

when job completes control transfers pack to monitor

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Memory Layout for a Simple Batch System

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Multiprogrammed Batch Systems

Several jobs are kept in main memory at the same time, and the
CPU is multiplexed among them.

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OS Features Needed for Multiprogramming

I/O routine supplied by the system.
Memory management the system must allocate the

memory to several jobs.

CPU scheduling the system must choose among
several jobs ready to run.
Allocation of devices.

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Time-Sharing SystemsInteractive Computing

The CPU is multiplexed among several jobs that are kept

in memory and on disk (the CPU is allocated to a job only

if the job is in memory).
A job swapped in and out of memory to the disk.
On-line communication between the user and the system
is provided; when the operating system finishes the
execution of one command, it seeks the next control
statement from the users keyboard.
On-line system must be available for users to access data
and code.

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Desktop Systems
Personal computers computer system dedicated to a

single user.
I/O devices keyboards, mice, display screens, small
printers.
User convenience and responsiveness.
Can adopt technology developed for larger operating
system often individuals have sole use of computer and
do not need advanced CPU utilization of protection
features.
May run several different types of operating systems
(Windows, MacOS, UNIX, Linux)

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Parallel Systems

Multiprocessor systems with more than on CPU in close

communication.
Tightly coupled system processors share memory and
a clock; communication usually takes place through the
shared memory.
Advantages of parallel system:
Increased throughput
Economical
Increased reliability
graceful degradation
fail-soft systems

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Parallel Systems (Cont.)

Symmetric multiprocessing (SMP)
Each processor runs and identical copy of the operating
system.
Many processes can run at once without performance
deterioration.
Most modern operating systems support SMP
Asymmetric multiprocessing
Each processor is assigned a specific task; master

processor schedules and allocated work to slave

processors.
More common in extremely large systems

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Symmetric Multiprocessing Architecture

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Distributed Systems
Distribute the computation among several physical

processors.
Loosely coupled system each processor has its own
local memory; processors communicate with one another
through various communications lines, such as highspeed buses or telephone lines.
Advantages of distributed systems.
Resources Sharing
Computation speed up load sharing
Reliability
Communications

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Distributed Systems (cont)

Requires networking infrastructure.
Local area networks (LAN) or Wide area networks (WAN)
May be either client-server or peer-to-peer systems.

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General Structure of Client-Server

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Clustered Systems

Clustering allows two or more systems to share storage.

Provides high reliability.
Asymmetric clustering: one server runs the application

while other servers standby.

Symmetric clustering: all N hosts are running the
application.

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Real-Time Systems
Often used as a control device in a dedicated application

such as controlling scientific experiments, medical

imaging systems, industrial control systems, and some
display systems.
Well-defined fixed-time constraints.
Real-Time systems may be either hard or soft real-time.

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Real-Time Systems (Cont.)

Hard real-time:
Secondary storage limited or absent, data stored in short
term memory, or read-only memory (ROM)
Conflicts with time-sharing systems, not supported by
general-purpose operating systems.
Soft real-time
Limited utility in industrial control of robotics
Useful in applications (multimedia, virtual reality) requiring
advanced operating-system features.

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Handheld Systems

Personal Digital Assistants (PDAs)

Cellular telephones
Issues:
Limited memory
Slow processors
Small display screens.

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Migration of Operating-System Concepts and Features

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Computing Environments

Traditional computing
Web-Based Computing
Embedded Computing

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